Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

A grey start to the day with outbreaks of rain:

Get the latest forecast for your area by going to the BBC Weather website.

Allen Cook
BBC News

Welcome to our live service for Friday.

We'll be bringing you all the news, sport, travel and weather for the West Midlands.

You can get in touch via email, Twitter , externaland Facebook, external.

Members of the Disabled Photographers’ Society tell how their art helps their mental health.

Twenty-two Birmingham musicians and artists feature on a mural celebrating its young creators.

The family of 32-year-old Rob Spray, from Staffordshire, say they are "heartbroken" by his death.

A man arrested on suspicion of murder will face no further action over the 50-year-old's death, police say.

Andy Giddings
BBC News

We'll be back with the news, sport, travel and weather from 07:00 tomorrow.

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Concerns have been raised about plans to build 305 homes, plus shops, bars and other businesses in Birmingham's Jewellery Quarter.

City councillors have agreed to defer a decision on the St Paul’s Quarter scheme, planned for a four-acre site on Northwood Street, which is currently occupied by two engineering firms which wish to relocate.

Image source, Glenn Howells Architects

Image source, Glenn Howells Architects

Councillor Lou Robson, who is on the council’s planning committee, said building five- or six-storey buildings would "effectively change the character of the Jewellery Quarter forever”.

The Victorian Society, Council for British Archaeology and the city "heritage champion", councillor Phil Davis, have also raised objections.

But they have received support from the Birmingham Civic Society, and committee member Councillor Gareth Moore admitted it was "far from perfect" but could "see the benefits".

Hereford Times

Here are some of the stories from the Hereford Times today:

• Hereford fireworks display cancelled, external

• Drink-driver crashed after sharing bottle of vodka, external
• Town set for royal visit, external

With three games left in the group stages, Coventry Blaze go into tonight's Challenge Cup match against Guildford Flames just one point off a quarter-final spot.

They lost to the same opponents when they met in Surrey earlier this month, but have come into a bit of form since then and have won four of their last five matches.

Image source, Scott Wiggins

The winners of a photography competition run by the Campaign to Protect Rural England (CPRE) have been announced and this picture of a storm over the Shropshire hills was the winner.

It was taken by Richard Gresswell and it will go on show, along with all the other finalists at Attingham Park, until 10 November.

The competition was open to all non-professional photographers in Shropshire.

Image source, Richard Gresswell

These two photos were the joint runners-up.

The first one is called Misty Morning on the Severn and was taken by Olwyn Wall.

Below that is a photo called Offa's Dyke on Llanfair Hill and it was taken by Janet Lewis.

Image source, Olwyn Wall

Image source, Janet Lewis

Bubbles the donkey celebrated her birthday with cake, carrots and a brush.

Local Democracy Reporting Service
Gurdip Thandi

Six community libraries in Walsall will no longer open on Sundays in a bid to save the cash-strapped local authority £40,000.

Image source, Google

Walsall Council’s cabinet approved plans to cease Sunday opening at Aldridge, Bloxwich, Brownhills, Darlaston, Willenhall and Streetly libraries.

A report said there had been fewer visitors on Sundays than expected.

There will be no redundancies as a result of the decision and staff working hours will be spread across the rest of the week at the facilities.

Walsall Central Library, in the town centre, will remain open on Sundays.

BBC Business News

The owner of Supercuts, one of Britain's largest chains of hair salons, has collapsed into administration, according to Sky News.

The firm, which has its UK base in Birmingham, has 220 outlets across the UK and 1,200 workers are thought to be at risk.

It also trades as the Regis Corporation.

Deloitte is handling the insolvency process, according to the Sky report, and PA Media says a formal announcement is expected on Friday morning.

A year ago, the BBC reported Regis UK was seeking a rescue deal to stay afloat.

Regis said at the time that it faced a "perfect storm" of falling customer numbers, higher wages and higher pension costs.

A new drop-in centre where companies can receive free business advice is to be opened in Birmingham.

Image source, Google

Birmingham City University's business advice centre will offer free help and support, including on how to access government grants.

It will be an "exciting addition" to the business community in the city, said the West Midlands Mayor, Andy Street.

The centre, in the university's Curzon buidling, is set to open on 4 November.

Stoke-on-Trent Live

Here are four of the headlines from the Stoke-on-Trent Live website today:

• Blast at JCB factory leaves four injured, external
• Mourners line the streets for funeral of Keeley Bunker, external
• Three year ban for headteacher who let primary pupils take taxi alone, external

BBC Shropshire

A man who is fed up of seeing blocked drains is asking people to report them to him - so he can get the local council to take action more quickly.

Blocked drains often contribute to flash floods.

Image source, Getty Images

Dr Graham Tate said he set up Shrewsbury Drainwatch because, "we're all paying our council tax and we want a good standard of public services."

He said he was spurred into action now because "at this time of year we really want our drains to be working at full flow".

People can pass on their drain concerns via a Facebook page, external called Shrewsbury Drainwatch.

Rich Davis
BBC Weather presenter

It will be a dry and clear night with lows of 7C (45F).

Local Democracy Reporting Service

Here are three of the stories covered by the Local Democracy Reporting Service in Shropshire today:

• The company behind plans for a crematorium near Nesscliffe is appealing against Shropshire Council's decision to refuse planning permission. The Westerleigh Group said there was a clear need for it and rejected concerns about noise and odour.
• The Johnsons Aggregates and Recycling site in Ketley has been allowed to nearly treble the weight of waste it handles, but it has agreed not to send out or receive lorries at school-run times.
• Councillors have been walking the route of the planned Shrewsbury North West Relief Road and repeated their belief it will cut pollution and congestion, while creating jobs.

One councillor blamed "wrong tablets" for his actions, according to the probe into the local authority.